Here's what 'losing' shutdown looks like for Democrats

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Nia-Malika Henderson / Bloomberg Opinion

And just like that, the longest government shutdown in history is poised to end. Republicans refused to extend health care subsidies for 20 million Americans, and, after 41 days and deep cuts to the federal food assistance program, enough Democrats crossed the aisle to end the standoff.

This was not an entirely unexpected outcome given the GOP’s commitment to starving the federal government and tanking the Affordable Care Act. Democrats took a big risk and learned how difficult it is to win a game of chicken against opponents who don’t mind crashing the car. But in losing this battle, Democrats have won a larger and politically important fight. That is the messaging fight over the cost of living, particularly health care, that will be central to the midterm elections in 2026.

Last week’s election results, with centrist and progressive candidates winning on affordability, showed how salient this issue is. And Democrats, in their anger with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, must not lose sight of this. Rather than train their ire on Schumer, Congressional Democrats — and the Democratic posting class — should keep the focus on Republicans. (More on Schumer later).

The shutdown revealed a level of cruelty in the party in power. The Trump administration fired federal workers; fought court orders that mandated the continuation of SNAP benefits for 42 million needy Americans; and refused to ensure relief for Americans already getting hit with impending health insurance price hikes, premiums are set to double if the covid-era subsidies expire. Now it’s Republicans who must contend with the political blowback.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-heres-what-losing-shutdown-looks-like-for-democrats/

[pat_k]

1. Time will tell.

Perhaps the 8 will be able to redeem themselves in a coming February shutdown with a couple demands that highlight the cruelty.

The problem is, we could have had the "pluses" summarized in the article, AND much more.

It seems to me there is a widespread false premise that the only "win" would be getting an extension of the ACA subsidies.

That premise is BS. There were two ways to win:

1) Trumpublicans ended the shutdown by adding an ACA subsidy extension

2) Trumpublicans ended the shutdown by jettisoning the filibuster.

Option 2 was a far, far, far, far better outcome than the "deal."

We'll never know the road not taken, but I would have bet heavily that the 5 additional defectors only needed to hold out another week or so. In addition to the malignant narcissist-in-chief ramping up the pressure to end the filibuster, rank and file Trumpublicans' dread of their constituents hating on them over Thanksgiving dinner would have pushed Thune to cave on the filibuster.

Had it played out that way:

-Instead of saying, "Why oh why did the Dems subject us to this pain for nothing," more would be livid with: "You mean you could have ended this by getting rid of the filibuster before it even started!!!"

-Democrats would be the ones that stood strong, doing battle on behalf of the American people with the leverage they had right up to the point that that leverage was forcibly taken from them.

-Our Democratic electeds would have demonstrated an unprecedented strength.

-People who support the Democratic Party would be riding as high as they were on Friday. Enraged by the ACA loss, but proud as hell of the strength demonstrated.

-The depravity and cruelty shown by the felon during the shutdown would be all the more evident as his Trumpublicans took 100% responsibly for the horror show.

If you are angry, as I am, when we contact Democratic leaders I think we need to be crystal clear that they failed us, not be failing to get their demands met, they failed us because in this fight we had faith that they would (1) make their demand, (2) hold out until either (a) MAGA R's met the demand, or (b) MAGA R's went nuclear and ended the shutdown on their own, without the complicity or capitulation of the Democrats.

[Wiz Imp]

2. Sorry, but there is no way the Republicans jettisoning the filibuster would have been a better outcome

Last edited Wed Nov 12, 2025, 04:26 PM - Edit history (1)

let alone a "far, far, far, far better outcome". To think that is to completely ignore that without the filibuster, the Republicans could pass any outrageous and cruel legislation they could come up with including totally abolishing SNAP, Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid. In fact, the first piece of legislation they would definitely pass (after the CR/budget bills) would be the SAVE act (already passed by the House). Many here have spent months screaming how it would be an absolute disaster for Democrats if the SAVE Act were passed - some believe it would make it impossible for Democrats to win future elections. So how would that be a better outcome than the guarantee of funding SNAP at increased levels through the entirety of 2026? (amongst other things that were gained in the deal)